THE NEW G.P.O.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1455, 1 June 1912, Page 3

THE NEW G.P.O.

READY IN AUGUST. ALFRED DRURY'S STATUARY lIEEE. Though portions of the new General Post Office may bo occupied before, the building will not be formally occupied until August at the earliest. There are signs on all sides, within the big stone block bounded by Grey, Panama, and Featherston Streets, of early completion, but the fittings, which are to be of an attractive and serviceable) order, will take some time to manufacture and erect. Hie rather poky little vestibule at tho main entrance is at present being finished oft in Pilkington tiles (cream ground with greon borders), which present a clean and handsome appearance. The postal apertures on the right-hand side axe also of tiles, with the required lettering (on the small side) burnt into thorn. 'J'hero are separate apertures for New Zealand, late fee, and city letters, another for letters for the Australian States, and still another for British and forcigu correspondence. Tho apertures are only large enough to take letters. Newspapers nave to be posted in a larger slot a yard or two away. The floor of the vestibule will be laid in Moore's mosaic tiles—a handsome design. Thoro is still some weeks' work to finish off the public office-a huge apartment, which occupies two-thirds of the ground floor. Delay has been caused here by tlio late arrival of the specially-designed electro-copper glass with which the one large central dome and seven smaller ones are to be glazed. As soon as that work is finished, the rest of the floor will bo laid, and the oval plastering finished. The Public Office, The public oflice is to contain a huge counter, eliptical in shape,.which will be divided by screens to accommodate the various branches of postal and telegraphic work that concerns the public, I his is likely to be the busiest spot in Wellington, aa all branches of work save the Savings Bank, Money Order, and Parcel Post business will be transacted within "tho oval." The Savings Bank and Money Order Department will be located in the same Department, but in that corner angled by Featherston and Panama Streets. The Parcels Post Department will be located below the level of tho ground,-with'a separate entrance from Grev Street. The public apartment s nttings are being built of Tasmaman black- " Barring the fittings, the two top floors are practically completed, and the hist floor is well under way.

Ministerial Apartments. Hitherto the Postmaster-General has net found it necessary to have apartments in the Chief Tost Office. Accommodation, however, is being provided for the Minister and Secretary on the second iloor of the new building (on tho corner ot Grey and Featherston Streets). As a matter of fact, tho Minister's room is the only one which has been completed and furnished sp far. It is understood that the Hon. H. G. Ell evinced a desire to uso the apartments at the earliest possible mpment, and te meet his wishes his room has been prepared, and is now under leek and key, though neither stairway nor elevator are ready for the exigencies of such business as might result from the presence there of a Minister of tho Crown. The Ministers room is a corner one, with windows looking down upon Grey and Feathcrston Streets. The white plastered walls have been liung with a rich green stamped paper of 'substantial texture The solid rimu-framed chairs are upholstered in leather (of crocodile pattern), and a largo flat-topped table-desk occupies the greater part of a handsome square of carpet. It is understood that Mr. Ell will occupy tho new quarters within a few days.

Drury's Statuary. The statuary created for the ernamenta. «pn of the main cntranco by Alfred Drury, E.A., has arrived in Wellington, and now..lie3-.d.n,piece-blocks m.the stoni? yard of the contractors, 'Messrs. 'J. and A. Wilson. A photographic reproduction of Mr. Drury's admirable work has already appeared in The Dominion, ahe supporting pedestals for the noted sen ptors work are now being prepared, and a start will be made with its erection next week. The two suppprting figures are also in Wellington, and are said: to be really creditable pieces. Electrically-Controlled Clocks. Time is essentially the essence of the contract in connection with post and telegraph work, and in order that there shall not bo any shade of difference the times shown by the clpcks throughout the building, all 'nro to be electricallycontrolled, and adjusted to the time as determined at the Observatory at nopu each day. Mr. A. D. Eiley was tho prdering agent for the clpcks.

Private Boxes, Chubb's have supplied the new private boxes, which are very different concerns from the wooden ones at present in use. They are neatly constructed of steel, and are of neat nnd finished workmanship. The ordinary boxes are top small. They pnly measure five inches by five inches, which allows for much less space than the existing bpxes. The bottom row nnd those at tho end of the apartment are ten inches by ten inches. Provision is wisely made for an increase in the number of boxes. They are numbered up to 1533. Tho entrance tp the private bexes will be from Grey Street.